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Submitted on Tuesday, 3^rd February 2026
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Swakeley's, Shepherds Bush, W12

174 Goldhawk Road
W12
W12 8HJ

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Served areas

Shepherds Bush

Reviews of Swakeley's (Average Rating: 4½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

David Walton left this review about Swakeley's

Visited 02/02/26. Visited previously as O'Donoghue's on 26/03/25.

No cask. Keg offering of Guinness, Coors, Madri, Carling, Pravha, Staro, Sharps Atlantic, Alpacalypse, Aspall, Kopparberg s&L cider.

Not much different compared to my previous visit here other than it was stripped of its sporting memorabilia and had a basic paint job. Very much now a very basic, no frills Irish pub. Some seating out the front but inside the front bar is a high ceiling, Lino floored affair with the bar counter providing tall stool service on two side in the rear right-hand corner. A few tall tables and tall stools dotted around with a pool table in the middle of the floor space to the right of the corner entrance. A single TV was showing Sky Sports News with sound. A rear room, closed on my visit has a continuation of the bar counter in the front right-hand corner with a doubling of the taps on the front bar. There was a dartboard on the rear wall and a strange that suggest this place is fitted for functions or live music. Not much changed almost a year since my first visit here, but felt even more basic and devoid of atmosphere albeit I did visit at a quiet time.

On 7^th February 2026 - rating: 3
[User has posted 1340 recommendations about 1323 pubs]

David Walton left this review about Swakeley's

Visited 26/03/25 as O’Donoghue’s.

No cask. Basic keg rage of Guinness, Coors, Aspall, Staro, Rekordling s&L and original apple cider, Estrella, Shipyard Pale Ale, Madri, Fosters, Carling, Sam Miguel, K1664 and Carlsberg.

This is a pretty basic venue with some seating out the front with picnic style tables and parasols, not unfurled on a pleasant evening. Inside the main action is in the front bar where the bar counter is in the back right hand corner. The floor has some lino patterned tiles with some tall tables and tall stools isling the front window. There is a pool table in the middle of the floor and some tall stools at the bar counter, with some tall tables and tall stools dotted around the floor. Plenty of TVs but all switched off on my visit. Quite a lot of wood panelling on the walls put painted a very non-descript pale blue colour. Upper part of the walls adorned by signed QPR shirts, and some iconic sporting photos. There is a large rear function room with a stage area and served by its own extension of the bar counter but unused on my visit.

On 7^th February 2026 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1340 recommendations about 1323 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Tris C left this review about Escape Shepherd's Bush

Dating from 1874, this was originally the Swakeley Hotel later Arms, the previous name of O'Donoghue's still visible to the side.
Sounding like a sequel to Escape from Alcatraz, Escape Shepherd’s Bush is now essentially a completely stripped out bar, with the large room to the rear for gigs. Either way, sequel or music venue: Welcome to the Rock. Otherwise, the front room is dominated by black paint, a glitter ball and oversized prints of legendary album covers such as Dark Side of the Moon…Ace of Spades…Ziggy Stardust…Remember You’re a Womble…; with grey picnic tables, there’s a slightly industrial feel. Sound system paraphernalia was rigged up, as I was about to find out that this was Karaoke Night, with loud music between acts.
No real ale of course, just the usual Neck Oil at £3.50 a half, served by a very nice barmaid, occasionally glancing my way in a rather suspicious manner; can’t say I blamed her.
This place clearly offers something by way of alternative entertainment for the area’s young, but as I’m neither young nor local, it’s not for me.

On 1^st April 2022 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]

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